Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Highway 61 south may be the first target for the Forest Lake Economic Development Authority as it begins a new push to help guide and stimulate development in the city.

That scenario emerged Monday as the EDA board continued its process of identifying its goal and vision for the future. Monday’s meeting was devoted to reports from consultants Tina Goodroad and Doug Borglund, the city’s community development director.

“Sixty-one will develop faster than you think,” Borglund said, describing the four-lane highway as a “prime” commercial development area.

The reports by Goodroad and Borglund follow two EDA sessions with the pair that identified city strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The message from Goodroad was to the point. Where does the EDA want to go, she asked?

Goodroad said one of the first tasks should be to identify and adopt goals and policies. Once they are in place, she said the EDA could then define development districts and rules for development.

Chip Robinson, EDA executive director, said district would likely be unique and require separate design guidelines established by the EDA and approved by the city council.

As the EDA completes its visioning process, Robinson said the next step would be for the city council to adopt the EDA’s formal charge for setting design standards in development districts beyond the downtown where the EDA now has its focus.

US-61 south and the W. Broadway Corridor were two of the potential districts listed on Monday.

Staff said a key to the process is to not let the scope of the project become too big and to gain the experience in working with districts one at a time.

“Once you create one, you know how to do it,” Robinson said.

With no specific design guidelines now on the books for US-61 south, Robinson agreed it could be a good starting place for the EDA.

Borglund said it was imperative that the EDA goals and policies be tied to the zoning ordinance and that the city continue to push character and identity through staff negotiations with developers.

Reaction

Commissioner Judy Bull agreed with the goal of expanding the EDA’s focus.

“It’s a part of what we need to do,” she said. “I agree that the downtown needs some help, too.”

Bull said the establishment of new standards would help the city do a better job of working with developers.

“The negotiations with Wal-Mart is what we don’t want,” she said, expressing disappointment with how plans unfolded for the new SuperCenter for Wal-Mart here.

“We’ve got to set the standards for what we want,” Bull said.

“If you want to be here, this is the suit you are going to have to wear,” Borglund said.

EDA President and Mayor Stev Stegner said there are many needs to study.

“I want to make Forest Lake more attractive,” Stegner said.

Regarding the south end of US-61, Stegner said the city must also explore pedestrian needs to help foot traffic safely cross the highway and deal with student pedestrian traffic from the high school.

As a part of its visioning effort, the city identified a number of strengths that included the lake, community growth and the potential for a small town feel.

Traffic and transportation topped the list of weaknesses for the city. Traffic was also listed as a threat to the city.

Project update

Regarding traffic, Robinson informed the board that Washington County has officially pushed its W. Broadway Ave. improvement project to 2010.

That comes after a one-time goal of doing the first phase of the work this summer.

With MnDOT proceeding with its mill and overlay on US-61, Robinson said the uncertainty of the Lake and Broadway intersection design is impacting the city’s planned improvements along US-61 from 2nd Ave. to 2nd Ave.

The city and the EDA have proposed new sidewalks, curb and gutter, street lights and sewer and water upgrades as part of its downtown redevelopment project.

At one point, the MnDOT work on US-61, the city upgrades from 2nd to 2nd and the Lake and Broadway improvement were to be completed in one construction season.

While MnDOT has agreed to pay for curb gutter changes later, Robinson said it is not certain when the city project can begin.

As the city now faces a delay of more than two years, Stegner said it appeared to him the city project should have taken place five years ago.

Top of Page